Sutton

Sutton's population grew in the decade to 2011. Data from the census also show there were changes in religion, housing tenure and family life.

The population passed 190,000

In the 10 years leading up to 2011, the population of Sutton increased by 5.8%, from almost 180,000 to 190,000.

The addition of about 10,000 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Sutton was home to, on average, 31 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was lower than the average across London

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across London, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Sutton

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Sutton increased by two years, from 36 to 38 years.

This suburban area had a higher average age than London and remained slightly younger than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The fall in age was because of an increase of just under 6,000 people between the ages of 40 and 49 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just over 2,000.

About 16% of people in Sutton are aged between 40 and 49 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, London and Sutton by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Sutton

Sutton saw London's largest fall in the proportion of people who aren't limited by a long-term health problem or disability.

In 2011, just over 9 in 10 (90%) in Sutton reported not being limited in their day-to-day activities, compared with 91% in 2001. The percentage who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 2.4% to 3.1%.

Across the region, Bromley saw the next largest decrease in the proportion of people who aren't limited by a long-term health problem or disability (which remained close to 90%).

The proportion of people who aren't limited by a long-term health problem or disability was lower than across London

Percentage of usual residents that reported not being limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in London and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in Sutton

The 2011 Census asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, 27% said they had no religion. An increase from 18% in 2001 makes this the fastest-growing religious group in Sutton.

Across London, the percentage of people who described themselves as having no religion increased from 17% to 23%, while across England the percentage went from 16% to 27%.

Around 63% of those who disclosed their religion in Sutton said they were Christian, down from 76% in 2001. About 0.2% said they were Sikh, up from 0.2% 10 years prior.

The percentage of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation fell from 7.9% to 7.6% between the last two censuses.

In Sutton, 7.6% chose not to disclose their religious affiliation. In London the percentage was 9.1% and across England the percentage was 7.7%.

The population without a religion in Sutton increased by 8 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, London and Sutton by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in Sutton that rented privately increased from 9.3% to 16% in the decade to 2011.

The percentage that lived in social housing remained close to 15%, while the percentage of Sutton households that owned their home decreased from 74% to 68%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased at a slower rate here than the figure for the whole of London (from 15% in 2001 to 25% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.9% to 17%.

Private renting in Sutton increased by 6.6 percentage points

Percentage of households in Sutton, London and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer homes without children

The percentage of households without children fell in Sutton at a faster rate than in Bromley (one of the most statistically similar areas to Sutton based on ONS area classifications).

In Sutton, the proportion of households without children decreased from 61% in 2001 to 57% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in statistically similar Bromley decreased from 61% to 59%.

Across London, the share of households without children decreased from 62% to 60%.

The proportion of households with children in Sutton increased from 30% to 32%, while the proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents increased from 9.1% to 11%.

The proportion of households without children was lower than across London

Percentage of households without children across local authority areas in London and the average across England, March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in Sutton working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 13% to 9.6% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.7%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 1.7% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell faster here than the figure for the whole of London (from 13% in 2001 to 11% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 13% to 10%.

Long hour working in Sutton decreased by 3.2 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Sutton, London and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Sutton residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 7.1% to 4.1% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (84%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 72% in 2001. The percentage of Sutton residents that described their health as fair decreased from 21% to 12%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of London (from 8.3% in 2001 to 5.0% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Sutton decreased by 3 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Sutton, London and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people living alone

The percentage of households in Sutton, which comprised one person, decreased from 33% to 30% in the decade to 2011.

The percentage that had an unmarried couple remained close to 8.9%, while the percentage of households in Sutton which comprised a married couple (with or without children) remained close to 35%.

The proportion of one-person households fell here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of London (from 35% in 2001 to 32% in 2011). Across England, the percentage remained close to 30%.

The percentage of households with only one person was lower than across London

Percentage of households that comprised only one person across local authority areas in London and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in rate of unemployment

The percentage of Sutton residents that were unemployed increased from 2.6% to 3.9% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just under 6 in 10 (57%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 58% in 2001. The percentage of Sutton residents that were self-employed increased from 9.8% to 11%.

The proportion of unemployed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of London (from 4.4% in 2001 to 5.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.4% to 4.4%.

The rate of unemployment in Sutton increased by 1.4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Sutton, London and England that said they were unemployed, March 2001 and March 2011

Relationships in Sutton

The percentage of married people fell in Sutton, but at a slower rate than across England.

In Sutton, the proportion of married people decreased from 49% in 2001 to 48% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion across England decreased from 51% to 47%.

Across London, the share of married people decreased from 42% to 40%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership in Sutton increased from 33% to 35%, while the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner increased from 10% to 11%.

The proportion of married people was higher than across London

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were married across local authority areas in London and the average across England, March 2011

Change in unpaid care

The percentage of Sutton residents that provided between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 0.8% to 1.2% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

The percentage who reported providing at least 50 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 1.6%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of London (from 1.0% in 2001 to 1.3% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.1% to 1.4%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care in Sutton remained close to 1.2%

Percentage of usual residents in England, London and Sutton by care, March 2001 and March 2011

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